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#1
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Daffodil mystery
This year have enjoyed going for a few runs in the good weather over
Easter and would like someone to explain to me how it is that you can be on country roads, in the middle of nowhere and you'll find a solitary daffodil flowering at the side of the road. Just the one, maybe two, not usually more. Then, a few miles down the road, exactly the same. Who does it ? Is there a phantom daffodil planter out there who plants them on grass verges in the dead of night ? Is it the birds ? I've never seen birds pecking the seed heads off daffys. Dropping bulbs from a great height ? Now I've noticed it, I see it all over the place. I'll be glad when the season's over as it's driving me mad ? Answers on a postcard please to.......... |
#2
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Daffodil mystery
"Joe Bloggs" wrote in message ... This year have enjoyed going for a few runs in the good weather over Easter and would like someone to explain to me how it is that you can be on country roads, in the middle of nowhere and you'll find a solitary daffodil flowering at the side of the road. Just the one, maybe two, not usually more. Then, a few miles down the road, exactly the same. Who does it ? Is there a phantom daffodil planter out there who plants them on grass verges in the dead of night ? Is it the birds ? I've never seen birds pecking the seed heads off daffys. Dropping bulbs from a great height ? Now I've noticed it, I see it all over the place. I'll be glad when the season's over as it's driving me mad ? Answers on a postcard please to.......... lol good point |
#3
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Daffodil mystery
"Joe Bloggs" wrote in message ... This year have enjoyed going for a few runs in the good weather over Easter and would like someone to explain to me how it is that you can be on country roads, in the middle of nowhere and you'll find a solitary daffodil flowering at the side of the road. Just the one, maybe two, not usually more. Then, a few miles down the road, exactly the same. Who does it ? Is there a phantom daffodil planter out there who plants them on grass verges in the dead of night ? Is it the birds ? I've never seen birds pecking the seed heads off daffys. Dropping bulbs from a great height ? Now I've noticed it, I see it all over the place. I'll be glad when the season's over as it's driving me mad ? Answers on a postcard please to.......... A few years ago, West Sussex CC got hold of thousands of daffodil bulbs and gave them to the gardening classes at schools around the County, who went out and planted them on the verges, on roundabouts, etc. They were given a great deal of freedom as to where they could plant and I assume the odd isolated groups or individuals I see are from that planting. Certainly there are none on roads that have been built since that year, but, if there is a natural reason, it could be that they have not been around long enough for it to come into play. Colin Bignell |
#4
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Daffodil mystery
"Joe Bloggs" wrote in message Snip . . . in the middle of nowhere and you'll find a solitary daffodil flowering at the side of the road. Just the one, maybe two, not usually more. Then, a few miles down the road, exactly the same. Who does it ? . . . Snip Perchance there was a daffy seed collector - I've collected half a pound of bluebell seeds and scattered them on verges - and it's very easy to put a few seeds in lots of pellets of clay/peat mixture. The car's passenger can throw one every now and then on to the roadside verge. Not all will flourish but, as you say, "maybe two". Regards Geoff. |
#5
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Daffodil mystery
nightjar wrote: "Joe Bloggs" wrote in message ... This year have enjoyed going for a few runs in the good weather over Easter and would like someone to explain to me how it is that you can be on country roads, in the middle of nowhere and you'll find a solitary daffodil flowering at the side of the road. Just the one, maybe two, not usually more. Then, a few miles down the road, exactly the same. Who does it ? Is there a phantom daffodil planter out there who plants them on grass verges in the dead of night ? Is it the birds ? I've never seen birds pecking the seed heads off daffys. Dropping bulbs from a great height ? Now I've noticed it, I see it all over the place. I'll be glad when the season's over as it's driving me mad ? Answers on a postcard please to.......... A few years ago, West Sussex CC got hold of thousands of daffodil bulbs and gave them to the gardening classes at schools around the County, who went out and planted them on the verges, on roundabouts, etc. They were given a great deal of freedom as to where they could plant and I assume the odd isolated groups or individuals I see are from that planting. Certainly there are none on roads that have been built since that year, but, if there is a natural reason, it could be that they have not been around long enough for it to come into play. Colin Bignell Well they've been to Scotland with them. That's what I call extra-curricular ! |
#6
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Daffodil mystery
On Thu, 24 Apr 2003 10:55:04 +0100, Joe Bloggs wrote:
This year have enjoyed going for a few runs in the good weather over Easter and would like someone to explain to me how it is that you can be on country roads, in the middle of nowhere and you'll find a solitary daffodil flowering at the side of the road. Just the one, maybe two, not usually more. Then, a few miles down the road, exactly the same. Who does it ? Is there a phantom daffodil planter out there who plants them on grass verges in the dead of night ? Is it the birds ? I've never seen birds pecking the seed heads off daffys. Dropping bulbs from a great height ? Now I've noticed it, I see it all over the place. I'll be glad when the season's over as it's driving me mad ? Answers on a postcard please to.......... There are irregular clumps of daffodils in places along the country lane which leads to our house. They seem to be the result of people dumping garden rubbish, presumably including the contents of pots of bulbs. What I really want to know is why they flourish with none of the recommended dead-heading or feeding! Regards, VivienB |
#7
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Daffodil mystery
"Joe Bloggs" wrote in message ... This year have enjoyed going for a few runs in the good weather over Easter and would like someone to explain to me how it is that you can be on country roads, in the middle of nowhere and you'll find a solitary daffodil flowering at the side of the road. Just the one, maybe two, not usually more. Then, a few miles down the road, exactly the same. Who does it ? Is there a phantom daffodil planter out there who plants them on grass verges in the dead of night ? Is it the birds ? I've never seen birds pecking the seed heads off daffys. Dropping bulbs from a great height ? Now I've noticed it, I see it all over the place. I'll be glad when the season's over as it's driving me mad ? Answers on a postcard please to.......... there are several sites around our area where they mark a death on the road at that point at the appropriate time of year -- Jill Bowis http://www.poultryscotland.co.uk http://www.henhouses.co.uk http://www.domesticducks.co.uk http://www.poultry-books.co.uk http://www.kintaline.co.uk/cottage |
#8
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Daffodil mystery
nightjar wrote "Joe Bloggs" wrote This year have enjoyed going for a few runs in the good weather over Easter and would like someone to explain to me how it is that you can be on country roads, in the middle of nowhere and you'll find a solitary daffodil flowering at the side of the road. snip A few years ago, West Sussex CC got hold of thousands of daffodil bulbs and gave them to the gardening classes at schools around the County, who went out and planted them on the verges, on roundabouts, etc. They were given a great deal of freedom as to where they could plant .......... Colin Bignell I heard a wonderful story recently about some prisoners who were given a similar task....... They planted all sorts of four letter words on a motorway slope .........:~)) Jenny |
#9
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Daffodil mystery
On Thu, 24 Apr 2003 17:12:19 +0100, Joe Bloggs wrote:
nightjar wrote: "Joe Bloggs" wrote in message ... This year have enjoyed going for a few runs in the good weather over Easter and would like someone to explain to me how it is that you can be on country roads, in the middle of nowhere and you'll find a solitary daffodil flowering at the side of the road. Just the one, maybe two, not usually more. Then, a few miles down the road, exactly the same. Who does it ? Is there a phantom daffodil planter out there who plants them on grass verges in the dead of night ? Is it the birds ? I've never seen birds pecking the seed heads off daffys. Dropping bulbs from a great height ? Now I've noticed it, I see it all over the place. I'll be glad when the season's over as it's driving me mad ? Answers on a postcard please to.......... A few years ago, West Sussex CC got hold of thousands of daffodil bulbs and gave them to the gardening classes at schools around the County, who went out and planted them on the verges, on roundabouts, etc. They were given a great deal of freedom as to where they could plant and I assume the odd isolated groups or individuals I see are from that planting. Certainly there are none on roads that have been built since that year, but, if there is a natural reason, it could be that they have not been around long enough for it to come into play. Colin Bignell Well they've been to Scotland with them. That's what I call extra-curricular ! Joe Bloggs is obviously well informed with regards his local history and what his gaffers in West Sussex got up to in the past. Perhaps it was a good idea that was adopted the length and breadth of the land (for a good idea it certainly was). Are daffs native I wonder - can I be bothered to look it up? They are now it seems, even if only in isolated colonies. Huss Grow a little garden spam block - for real addy, reverse letters of second level domain. |
#10
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Daffodil mystery
On Thu, 24 Apr 2003 16:44:24 +0100, "geoff"
wrote: "Joe Bloggs" wrote in message Snip . . . in the middle of nowhere and you'll find a solitary daffodil flowering at the side of the road. Just the one, maybe two, not usually more. Then, a few miles down the road, exactly the same. Who does it ? . . . Snip Perchance there was a daffy seed collector - I've collected half a pound of bluebell seeds and scattered them on verges - and it's very easy to put a few seeds in lots of pellets of clay/peat mixture. The car's passenger can throw one every now and then on to the roadside verge. Not all will flourish but, as you say, "maybe two". Regards Geoff. Kind growers of C. sativa should keep all the seeds from an unfortunate hermie and scatter them all round the countryside. It is, after all, a plant most beneficial to others, not at all greedy, tolerant of abuse, provides an extraordinarily effective intermediate canopy for shade and then politely disappears for the winter. Of course the other effect would be to rob the plant of all it's pecuniary value - which does not sit well with the nature of one of its seductions. Children soon get bored with whirling around to give themselves the sensation of giddiness. The Medicine Man should not have revealed his secret. Not all knowledge is, either of itself or in its revealing, necessarily good. S'cuse the conceit. Huss Grow a little garden spam block - for real addy, reverse letters of second level domain. |
#11
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Daffodil mystery
On Thu, 24 Apr 2003 18:30:17 +0100, VivienB
wrote: On Thu, 24 Apr 2003 10:55:04 +0100, Joe Bloggs wrote: This year have enjoyed going for a few runs in the good weather over Easter and would like someone to explain to me how it is that you can be on country roads, in the middle of nowhere and you'll find a solitary daffodil flowering at the side of the road. Just the one, maybe two, not usually more. Then, a few miles down the road, exactly the same. Who does it ? Is there a phantom daffodil planter out there who plants them on grass verges in the dead of night ? Is it the birds ? I've never seen birds pecking the seed heads off daffys. Dropping bulbs from a great height ? Now I've noticed it, I see it all over the place. I'll be glad when the season's over as it's driving me mad ? Answers on a postcard please to.......... There are irregular clumps of daffodils in places along the country lane which leads to our house. They seem to be the result of people dumping garden rubbish, presumably including the contents of pots of bulbs. What I really want to know is why they flourish with none of the recommended dead-heading or feeding! Regards, VivienB I don't think the species daffs really need a lot of food other than that which they will find in the naturally rotting vegatation where they are found. As for the dead heading - that's what they do to produce seed and spread themselves around a bit! The reason gardeners dead head is to prevent the enery going towards scattered seed but instead into a vegetatively reproduced clump of bulbs underground. Daffs are at their best in clumps, the more established, extensive and unregimented, the better. How much room do you have and how nifty are you with the mower? One thing I have _never_ _ever_ liked is daffs in rose beds. I knew this thread would be a corker when I read the first message from Joe Bloggs, and, dear oh dear, I've provided some more hits for usenet searches on "C. sativa". I found a couple of the Anemone blanda by the way. They really had a struggle with the grape hyacinths and small bright yellow wallflowers which I think may be from the "Wildflower" section of the seed shelves. These wallflowers are very different from the other ones I have which have more voluptuous shades and promptly fall over only to rise up gamely. It's not as if the flowers are that heavy. Maybe they don't like being on the North side of a three foot wall (otherwise unshaded). I think they came from the Plantation House Victorian Gardens so thank you that kind person who prompted a link to identify wallflower seedlings. I think they would do better to find their own place in the border to germinate and then probably moved to a sunnier spot. I'm keeping my eye out for them now. I don't know whether there will be any from last summers scattering or whether, if I hadn't carelessly pulled them up as weeds, they will be easily recogniseable as small plants now. I think I have found one or two. Huss Grow a little garden spam block - for real addy, reverse letters of second level domain. |
#12
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Daffodil mystery
"Joe Bloggs" wrote in message ... This year have enjoyed going for a few runs in the good weather over Easter and would like someone to explain to me how it is that you can be on country roads, in the middle of nowhere and you'll find a solitary daffodil flowering at the side of the road. Just the one, maybe two, not usually more. Then, a few miles down the road, exactly the same. Who does it ? Is there a phantom daffodil planter out there who plants them on grass verges in the dead of night ? Is it the birds ? I've never seen birds pecking the seed heads off daffys. Dropping bulbs from a great height ? Now I've noticed it, I see it all over the place. I'll be glad when the season's over as it's driving me mad ? Answers on a postcard please to.......... Narcissus pseudonarcissus is a native plant. -- Regards, Alan. Preserve wildlife - Pickle a SQUIRREL to reply. |
#13
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Daffodil mystery
"Hussein M." Are daffs native I wonder - can I be bothered to look it up? They are now it seems, even if only in isolated colonies. Huss Yes Huss, they are native plants : http://www.bluebellbulbs.co.uk/nativebulbs.htm Jenny |
#14
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Daffodil mystery
Hussein M. wrote:
Are daffs native I wonder - can I be bothered to look it up? Yes but not all. DAFFODIL Narcissus pseudonarcissus Blodyn Mis Mawrth The main daffodil species of Britain, the one that impressed Wordsworth and known as the Lent Lily. A short plant of 8"-12" with pale petals and deep yellow corona, it is found in damp woods and grassland, where it naturalises readily. Others are imports or hybrids. Steve R |
#15
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Daffodil mystery
VivienB wrote:
What I really want to know is why they flourish with none of the recommended dead-heading or feeding! They managed before gardeners! |
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